IP switching based distributed radio network controller

Abstract

The invention provides an IP switching based radio network controller. The radio network controller comprises a plurality of functional modules, at least comprising: an ATM interface module, an interface management module, a radio signaling management module and a radio bearer processing module, characterized in that, the radio network controller replaces an ATM switch with an IP switching network to achieve data and signaling exchange among the above functional modules in the radio network controller. Said functional modules respectively comprise at least one functional board, and the functions of each of the functional modules are respectively achieved in different functional boards. The radio network controller of the invention has the advantages of low cost, simple configuration and management, and easy to achieve the system.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION[0001]This is a National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Patent Application No. PCT / CN03 / 00568, filed Jul. 16, 2003. The International Application was published on Jan. 27, 2005 as WO 2005 / 009060 A1 PCT Article 21(2).FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention generally relates to a code division multiple access (CDMA) communication system, and more particularly, to a radio network controller for use in the third generation mobile communication wideband code division multiple access (3G W-CDMA) system.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The radio network controller (RNC) is an important component in the third generation mobile communication wideband code division multiple access system (3G W-CDMA), which performs important functions such as access control of a radio network, management of radio resources, establishment and release of radio links, and the performance of which will directly decide quality of service that c...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention replaces the complex and costly ATM switching network with an IP switching network in a radio network controller. The IP switching network supports QoS for data and signaling exchange within the controller. The interface management board, radio signaling processing board, and radio bearer processing board are connected to the IP switching module, which simplifies the system and allows for easy extension. The radio network controller has flexible configuration and efficient hardware utilization, saving cost while ensuring smooth extension of the system. It also utilizes the advantages of IP technology, such as low development cost, rapid development speed, and seamless upgrade."

Problems solved by technology

However, the ATM switch has many defects such as high cost, complex configuration and management, and hard to extend.

It can be seen from the features of the ATM switching itself and the operating principle of ATM information exchange, the traditional radio network controller using ATM switching technology has the following defects: since an end-to-end connection needs to be established between ATM switching based processing units, the process of configuring, establishing and removing routes is complex and its switching network needs a lot of routing information to manage and maintain.

In addition, it is very difficult to pack and unpack ATM information elements, such that each step of the switching flow has a certain complexity.

As to the extendibility, the ATM switching based radio network controller generally uses a single chassis, thus its extensibility is poor.

Since the ATM switching mechanism is difficult to be achieved, even if a back-plate bus type is used, existing ATM switching products are generally used between multiple chassis.

Since switching ports supported by these products are generally fewer, if they are cascaded by multiple layers, the switching routing configuration will be more complex and the operation and maintenance will be more difficult.

Since connecting end points have different features, the multiplexing and interface (an external interface of the RNC that is mainly user-network interface UNI) module cannot be identical with the extended switching interface (the internal extended interface of the RNC that is mainly network-network interface NNI), which further adds the complexity and processing difficulty of the switching routing in the ATM switching module within the chassis.

When the number of the extended chassis increases, the complexity of the switching module in the chassis increases, thus routing configuration and management becomes a bottleneck of the extensibility and maintainability of the overall product.

In addition, the use of external ATM switch or cascaded ATM switch having a large capacity also has the problem of complex configuration, which is also a factor to limit its extensibility.

Since the various processing modules (for example, SPU, MUX, SXB, and so on) cannot be implemented in a unified platform, the cost for implementing the processing modules is comparatively higher.

Heretofore, the cost for implementing the ATM switching module or ATM switch is also comparatively higher and there is little choice in the market, thus the overall cost of the ATM switching based radio network controller is comparatively higher.

In summary, the radio network controller using the ATM switch is high in cost, complex in configuration and management and difficult to extend, all of which will affect the build of the future 3G network.

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